School Programs
After
School Arts & Enrichment
Program
These after-school classes are open to all students enrolled in the Arcata
School District.
This program offers recreation activities and a study hall environment.
Food
Services
The Arcata School District provides healthy food for
all children in the Arcata School District as we believe that this improves
and enhances students learning potential. Our central kitchen is located at
the Sunny Brae Middle School, with satellite kitchen at Arcata Elementary.
Hot lunches are offered to all students supported
by the Federal School Lunch Program through the United States
Department of Agriculture and the California Nutrition and Good
Division of the California Department of Education. We also offer
a breakfast program for all students through the School Breakfast
program. The Arcata School District follows the food based menu
system which meets the RDA and dietary guidelines provided for
in the school lunch and breakfast programs.
Students whose families are eligible for free or
reduced lunches, may qualify by filling out the necessary forms
at any time. Forms are available in each school office.
Health Services
The Arcata School District employs a part time credentialed school nurse who
serves all district schools and programs.
The school nurse conducts health screenings, provides emergency first
aid, evaluates and assesses health needs, provides counseling, implements and
monitors student's compliance with state immunization laws, is a member of
the education team, teaches health education, is a resource person and detects,
plans, treats, refers, and follows-up on health problems interfering with children's
learning.
The school nurse is a liaison between home and school, as well as a liaison
between school, health care providers and community resources.
Library
The Arcata School District is fortunate to employ a full-time credentialed
librarian. This affords the district a unique advantage in
providing a complete library experience for the students, including
extended reading programs, language arts and research skill
building opportunities. The library also provides support services
for the community and the teaching staff of the Arcata School
District. The Library Program is developmental in nature, from
stories read aloud for kindergartners to the on-line computerized
research opportunities at the Sunny Brae Middle School.
Music
The Arcata School District employs
a full-time music instructor who serves both Arcata Elementary
and Sunny Brae Middle schools. The curriculum focuses
on specific programs for each level of our students' development.
In addition to classroom music, students in grades five through
eight are provided with opportunities to study Concert Band,
Choir and String Ensemble, and Jazz Band. To support Arcata
Elementary School District, specialists have been
hired in all four areas of emphasis: Music, Dance, Drama and
Art. We also utilize the wealth of talented musicians on our
staff who participate along with the children in school-wide
productions.
Psychological & Counseling
Services
Psychological and counseling services with credentialed psychologists and HSU
interns are available at all three sites. The middle school has a full-time
school psychologist/counselor who provides school-wide services for all students,
including numerous student run programs such as: Reach-A-Peer, Friends Against
Drugs, Conflict Management Programs, Friendship Groups, Interact Community
Service Group, and Peer Education Sexual Harassment Group. Also we offer a
variety of parent programs, including: Parents As Experts, the Parent Project,
Family Night, and the 100 man 100 women lunch program. These professionals
participate in Child Study Teams with parents and faculty to assist children
in their adaptation to their school. Psychologists also provide mandated and
necessary assessment services for all Special Education programs within the
Arcata School District.
Quality in Instruction
and Class Size
The faculty members of the Arcata School
District are among the finest in the county. Various staff
members have been honored with Humboldt County Excellence in
Teaching Awards, and have received grants such as the Early
Intervention for School Success and the California and the
California Educational Initiative Fund (formerly Bank of America
Grants). Additionally, many have participated in advanced studies
in the arts, sciences and mathematics. All District teachers
have completed coursework beyond their credentials and many possess advanced
degrees. The Arcata School District is committed to providing training opportunities
for our staff, utilizing in-service training and conference opportunities.
The curriculum is consistent with the latest California State Frameworks and
National Standards. Special attention is devoted to readiness skills and basic
core curriculum at Arcata Elementary Schools; the many student
support programs at Sunny Brae Middle School provide students with a successful
transition to high school environment.
Class sizes are consistently low, averaging less
than 26 students per class, with instructional aides available
at the Middle School for educationally disadvantaged students.
We are fortunate to have student teachers from nearby Humboldt
State University participate in the learning environment at each
of our sites.
Summer School Programs
The
Arcata School District continues to offer summer school for
students who have completed 3rd through 7th grades and special
reading instruction for 1st graders as well as a Special Day
Class for learning disabled students. Enrichment courses vary
from year to year and include such courses as varied as computers,
botany, Medieval times, African dance, and Arts instruction.
Transportation
The Arcata School District boundaries encompass the city limits
of Arcata, including Humboldt State University, parts of
the region near Blue Lake and Fieldbrook, and the town
of Manila on the Samoa Peninsula. We provide two
daily transportation routes for district students to and from school,
as well as providing busing for them on field trips. An updated bus schedule
can be found by accessing the Bus Schedule link. Questions or comments can
be directed to the Director of Transportation at 822-2614. |
